folktale

noun

Definition of folktalenext
as in tale
a traditional description of imaginary events circulated orally among a people West African folktales that continue to be passed from generation to generation through storytelling

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of folktale The body horror of birth gives way to the fairy-tale horror of early motherhood, which McBride, a translator based in Barcelona, strews with literary Easter eggs from folktales and Victorian poetry. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Pritam invokes the 18th-century Punjabi Sufi poet Waris Shah, whose version of the Punjabi folktale Heer retells the tragic love story of Heer and Ranjha. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 Disney made its name on the back of fairy and folktales, retelling centuries-old stories and giving them a fresh new spin for modern audiences. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026 Irving may have been influenced by German folktales about a man who slept for 20 years, or European stories of terrifying headless riders, but these stories were set in rural New York state, with a distinctly American voice and references. — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for folktale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folktale
  1. tale
  2. legend
  3. story
  4. myth
  5. history
  6. romance
Noun
  • The drama mixes battlefield action with a tale of conflicted allegiances and the dangers of undercover work in hostile territory.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Flanagan is the prolific horror writer-director who has tackled several Stephen King tales (Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, Carrie) and delivered several limited series hits for Netflix (Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House of Usher).
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tale
Noun
  • Gaines was also in the building that night, and her adversary and Olympic legend Simone Biles was the team's guest of honor for that game.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Created by comedy legend Carl Reiner, the show centered on Rob Petrie, played by Dick Van Dyke, who is the head writer for the fictional The Alan Brady Show.
    — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of legend
Noun
  • While the episodic stories reflect the never-ending parade of tourists and partygoers, the show also provides Dennis and Rosa with long-term arcs.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Suffice it to say the mystery bullets that landed in Rate Field’s bleachers in 2023 and wounded two women definitely aren’t relevant to this feel-good story but are worth mentioning to remind us how much the Sox narrative has changed.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of story
Noun
  • Best Bedroom Furniture Deals Yes, high-quality, affordable bedroom furniture is not a myth.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Nalla Roberts has been fascinated with tales like this for years, growing obsessed with Greek myths in her childhood.
    — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of myth
Noun
  • Frémaux also turned the opening ceremony into his customary crash course in Lyon cinema history.
    — Lise Pedersen, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Leaning into its history, Kessler has outfitted the hotel with installations that channel the Jurassic period, including life size dinosaur skeletons and fossils, backlit in a range of bright colors, displayed throughout the walls.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of history
Noun
  • Mercury in your 12th House quincunxes Saturn in your 5th, making private thoughts, uncertainty, or unspoken feelings harder to reconcile with fun, romance, or creative expression.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • One example is the hit romance Perfect Crown, made with Korean broadcaster MBC.
    — Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of romance

Browse Nearby Words

folksy
folktale
folktales
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Cite this Entry

“Folktale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folktale. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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